Educating Students Since 2003
INNOVATION | EXCELLENCE | GLOBAL READINESS
Cedar Hill Prep students returned to campus with excitement and energy, ready to begin a year full of learning, growth, and new experiences. Smiles, curiosity, and a sense of community set the tone for a successful start to the school year.
We look forward to a year of Innovation, Excellence, and Global Empowerment!
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Welcome Picnic 2025: A Day of Fun and Celebrating Community!
New and returning families came together to kick off the year at our Annual Welcome Picnic! The day was filled with exciting activities, delicious food, and plenty of opportunities to connect and socialize.
It was wonderful to see our Cedar Hill Prep community come alive, celebrate, and make memories together.
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Apple season is here! Preschoolers enjoyed a tasting of red, green, and yellow apples and then voted for their favorite. On a classroom poster with three apple trees, each child placed their apple choice on the matching tree. Once graphed, the winner was clear — red apples! The tasting inspired apple-themed creativity. Children made torn paper apples, apple men, and apple stamping artwork. They also discovered a fun surprise: did you know there’s a star inside every apple? After listening to the story The Little Red House and cutting an apple horizontally, preschoolers were amazed to see the star.
Our preschoolers began the year by learning more about themselves and their families. Each child created an All About Me poster with help from their parents. The posters included their favorite book, food, color, and age, and each child drew a self-portrait to display proudly. As a group, we sang the song Mat Man. Using wooden sticks shaped like straight lines and curves, the children assembled the Mat Man body and identified different body parts together.
This week was all about colors! Each day, children (and teachers, too!) wore a different color — blue, white, green, red, and black. In class, preschoolers experimented with paint and were delighted to see how colors mix. “Magic, magic!” they chanted as red and yellow made orange, blue and yellow made green, and red and blue made purple.
We also went on a Color Hunt outdoors. Using folders with color samples, children searched the playground and found matching items in nature. They spotted flowers, leaves, and even wrappers — proving that our world is filled with color everywhere we look!
September was a joyful month for our Pre-K students as they excitedly returned to school, eager to explore and learn. Ms. Priya and Ms. Aparna’s classes embraced the season with fun fall-themed activities that delighted young learners. One highlight was our apple tasting event, where students sampled different varieties of apples and voted on their favorites—a tasty way to engage their senses and learn about healthy foods.
Back-to-School Night brought parents into the fun too, with a unique activity that had them guessing their child’s picture based solely on a snapshot of their smiles. It was a wonderful way to build community and share the joy of early childhood together.
As we close out September, the Pre-K team is energized and ready for an exciting October filled with learning, discovery, and more handson activities that nurture curiosity and growth.
This September in Social Studies, kindergarteners learned about life long ago compared to today. Using picture cards, students compared modes of transportation from the past with present-day cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, and buses. They discovered how people used to get water before pipes and plumbing brought it to homes; people had to go to a water source to bathe or drink, and later, wells were built to draw water with a bucket. Students learned that, long ago, people made their own clothes by hand or with a sewing machine instead of buying them in clothing stores.
Students shared with classmates the family traditions they celebrate at home during the holidays. They also reflected on new traditions they might want to start in the future. Parents were encouraged to continue the discussion at home, exploring how their family’s traditions have changed throughout the years.
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Ms. Mottola read the books “Apples and Honey: A Rosh Hashanah Story” by Jonny Zucker and Jan Barger Cohen, and “Let’s Celebrate Navratri!” by Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar. She discussed the family traditions celebrated during both of these holidays. During Morning Meeting, Ms. Mottola’s class danced the Dandiya Stick Dance to celebrate Navratri.
In 1st Grade, students enjoyed getting to know one another through a fun and educational activity called The Syllable Name Game.
Each child created a movement to match each syllable of their name, and the class practiced saying everyone’s names while performing the corresponding motions.
First grade went on a special nature walk, exploring our beautiful campus with their five senses (except taste). They enjoyed looking for plants, animals, and animal homes, and they recorded the interesting things they found along the way.
Second grade is off to a wonderful start! As the oldest students in the Lower School building, our second graders are stepping into their new responsibilities with confidence and settling beautifully into routines. Ms. Thompson and Ms. Turcios have loved getting to know the children and seeing them build a strong sense of classroom community.
To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, students enjoyed a live reading with Latino author Lucky Diaz, who shared his book Paletero Man, a joyful celebration of community and kindness. It has been an exciting first month, and the second graders are off to a strong start!
Welcome Grade 3 to a New School Year!
Third grade had a fantastic first day full of fun, smiles, and learning. We are looking forward to a wonderful year filled with growth, creativity, and discovery.
Some of the highlights from our first day:
• Got to know each other through fun icebreakers and classroom games
• Learned about classroom rules and daily routines
• Took a tour of the school and reviewed where important places are (bathrooms, nurse, cafeteria, etc.)
• Made “All About Me” pennants
• Started reading our first class book
• Discussed what we’re excited to learn in 3rd grade!
Arif is in Ms. Haynoski’s homeroom from Thunder Galaxy and calls himself a Harmonious Helper. With a big family, a lightning bolt superpower, and a love for drawing, he dreams of starring in a movie where he saves someone and hopes to make the world cleaner and safer. His favorite color when happy is blue, and he’d choose his sister and friends as sidekicks. Arif enjoys reading I Survived and Magic Tree House books.
Agarwala is in Ms. Kotasthane’s class from the Milky Way Galaxy and describes himself as a Mighty Mathematician. He has a lightning bolt superpower, an 8-member super family, and would pick his sister as his sidekick. He loves Harry Potter and Star Wars, watching TV, and dreaming of starring in a movie saving the world from a monster invasion. When happy, he thinks of blue and enjoys talking with friends about fun topics.
Ms. Kotasthane’s third graders demonstrated their understanding of rounding through a seasonal, fall-themed math lesson. In the “Rounding Pumpkins” activity, students rounded numbers to the nearest 10 and 100 by crafting pumpkins and “rounding” the numbers on them. This hands-on, engaging lesson used number lines and visual prompts to reinforce place value concepts and rounding rules in a memorable, thematic way—perfect for the autumn season.
In Grade 4, the new school year has been bustling with enthusiasm and activity! We are excited to welcome our four new students and their families to our Grade 4 community: Harrison Feng, Jessica Obhan, Taksh Patel, and Danielle Thompson. It was wonderful to meet our new and returning families during the Welcome Picnic!
As the students settled into their new classes, they began to adapt to their new grade while putting forth a tremendous effort to learn new organizational skills that will help to support their learning. They have demonstrated their ability to work cooperatively in their cohort groups as they worked on developing their Essential Agreement….Our Class Constitution.
The story, What Do You Do with an Idea, provided an introduction to Grade 4’s overarching theme…Kids Can Make a Difference. We began by listening to the story and reflecting upon our own experiences. Through our discussion, the students quickly realized the impact our words have upon others and how easily one kind word can provide encouragement to others. Their personal narratives thoughtfully expressed their feelings when faced with a new idea.
Each year, Grade 4 students learn about the events of September 11, 2001. The students were quite moved by the story, This Very Tree…A Story of 9/11, Resilience and Regrowth. Through much discussion, they understood that although this was a tragic day, the survival of this one tree provided a symbol of hope for all. This inspired the students to reflect upon their individual feelings of hope. We look forward to reading their Leaves of Hope, currently under construction.
In Math, students began working with whole numbers: place value, approximation, factors, multiples and order of operations. They also began working on the Grade 4 time honored tradition of DWPs, which challenge them to apply their mathematical knowledge to complex problems.
In Science, the students are working on Exploring Systems: From Solar Circuits to City Blackouts. They built a simple electrical system powered by a solar panel, identified the parts and functions of the system, and then connected these to those of a larger electrical energy system. This activity provided a concrete experience with a system and its interacting parts, helping them work toward answering the Unit Question: “Why does Ergstown keep having blackouts?
The return to school also signifies a return to one of Grade 4’s favorite activities…Recess! They certainly appreciated September’s weather as they were able to experience outdoor recess playing soccer, tag, Four Square, and creating new games as they enjoyed the playground equipment. Grade 4 had an opportunity to celebrate the first two birthdays of the 2025-2026 school year. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Harrison and Sisira!!!
Thank you to our Grade 4 parents who were able to join us for Back to School Night! We look forward to getting to know you throughout the year! As always, September seems to have flown by as we busily prepare for the days ahead. Happy Autumn!!!
Grades 5 and 6 are off to a running start in Science class this year! Grade 5 presented their eco-friendly homemade toothbrushes, which they engineered as part of their summer homework. Grade 6 students took on a unique challenge: shipping a single Pringle chip to themselves using package designs they engineered to keep the chip intact. Students were excited to share their engineering feats and are off to a fantastic start in their science classes. One student even designed and shipped his Pringle chip from his vacation spot in Kenya, with help from local villagers! Way to go, future scientists!
Our middle school students participated in this year’s annual House Elections, a cherished tradition that gives students the opportunity to vote for their peers for key leadership roles: House Leader, Assistant Leader, Arbitrator, Speaker, Scribe, Historian, and Steward.
The elections provide a practical and engaging way for students to understand the voting process while learning about the responsibilities and skills required for each leadership position. Congratulations to all the students who ran and to those who were elected to serve as House Leaders this year!
On September 29, Mr. Seeley led the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected House Leaders and Members, officially welcoming them into their important roles of leadership and service.
CHEROKEE: S. Doshi, S. Desai, Z. Shirley, A. Mabbu, A. Shah, C. Bigos, I. Arif, E. Kumar and K. Richard
LENAPE: L. Trotta, A. Vig, A. Gurjar, F. Merrill, V. Shukla, K. Pingle, and J. Li, I. Lee
RAMAPO: S. Genupur, A. Peng, I. James, A. Betancourt, M. Chandwani, S. Nadella, C. Byrd, and L. Parekh-Patel
SHAWNEE: N. Garofalo, A. Kumar, I. Gupta, L. Romaine, I. Rajiv, G. Puthumana, S. Dakhera, and S. Jayasuriya
Grade 6 students brought “a taste of France” to their French class by sharing a variety of traditional foods. From sweet pastries to savory treats, they enjoyed sampling delicious flavors while celebrating French culture. This engaging activity gave students the opportunity to connect language learning with cultural traditions and deepen their appreciation of the Francophone world.
On October 30th, our middle school proudly celebrated students who have demonstrated excellence in world language studies and earned induction into the Honor Societies for Spanish and French. This year, we warmly welcomed new Spanish inductees: V. Vijayaraj, G. Puthumana, S. Jayasuriya, and A. Mohamed, who joined returning members S. Genupur, Z. Shirley, and A. Kahlon. We also welcomed new French Honor Society inductees A. Gurjar and A. Cherukuri, who joined the returning members N. Garofalo, I. Gupta, L. Trotta, S. Dakhera, N. Kim, S. Desai, Y. Subramaniam, and A. Patel.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all these students for their hard work, commitment, and passion for language learning. Their achievement reflects their perseverance and curiosity, and we look forward to seeing how they continue to grow as leaders in our world language community.
Our students came together to celebrate the start of the fall sports season at the Pep Rally! All players from tennis, soccer, cross country, and volleyball were introduced, and the crowd cheered them on with energy and school spirit. Here’s to a successful and exciting season for all our athletes!
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The Cedar Hill Prep girls tennis team holds a 1-2 record this season. They started strong with a tight 3-2 victory against Rutgers Prep, highlighted by excellent play from A. Vig, A. Patel, and Z. Shirley, who contributed significantly to the win. The team faced tough competition in a 1-3 loss to PDS, where A. Vig secured a hard-fought match win. Most recently, the Wildcats met a strong Pingry team and fell 4-0.
Our players are working hard to improve, and with continued practice and dedication, we look forward to stronger results in upcoming matches. The team’s determination and growth mindset promise an exciting season ahead.
Our soccer team’s current record of 0–3 doesn’t reflect their heart, growth, and teamwork.
Game 1 CHP vs. Winfield (7–4): A high-energy opener where CHP scored 4 goals — 2 from A. Nguyen (including a brilliant solo run through the defense) and 1 each from I. Rajiv and K. Patel.
Game 2 CHP vs. Timothy Christian (6–0): A tough matchup, but our goalie A. Shah shined with countless saves, keeping the scoreline from reaching double digits.
Game 3 CHP vs. Princeton Day School (3–1): The team’s best performance yet, showing resilience and steady improvement. A. Mohamed delivered an assist to A. Nguyen, who scored our lone goal.
Soccer Schedule
We’re excited to introduce Coach Saad, leading our soccer team this year! With his passion, expertise, and dedication, he’s ready to guide our players to growth, teamwork, and a fantastic season ahead. Welcome to the Cedar Hill Prep family, Coach Saad!
Wildcats Cross Country Shine at Green Brook!
Our Wildcats Cross Country Team had a strong start to the season at their first meet in Green Brook!
N. Garofalo led the team with an impressive 21st place finish, clocking in at 12:48. Every runner gave their best effort, showcasing determination, teamwork, and school spirit.
Go Wildcats!
Cedar Hill Prep Student Z. Shirley Excels in Track & Field, Competes at National Level
This summer, 7th grader Z. Shirley made us all proud with her remarkable achievements in Track and Field. Through hard work, determination, and perseverance, she qualified to compete at two prestigious national competitions in Georgia and Texas—an incredible milestone for such a dedicated young athlete!
Zinnia competed in multiple events, earning recognition at the state, regional, and national levels.
Her accomplishments include:
• USATF State & Regional Champion – Javelin
• AAU District & Regional Champion – Javelin
• 6th Place – AAU National Junior Olympics, Javelin
• 2nd Place – USATF Regionals, High Jump
• 3rd Place – AAU Regionals, High Jump
• USATF Regional Champion – 4x100m Relay
• 2nd Place – AAU Districts, 4x100m Relay
• 3rd Place – USATF Regionals, Pentathlon
• 3rd Place – USATF Nationals, Pentathlon
Her success highlights not only her passion and resilience, but also the strong support she receives from her family, coaches, and the Cedar Hill Prep community. We are incredibly proud of Z. Shirley and can’t wait to see all that she will continue to achieve!
Cedar Hill Prep is proud to be among the first U.S. schools invited to join the International/European School Sport Day (ESSD), a global initiative that celebrates movement, teamwork, and community.
Each September, millions of students across Europe take part in ESSD through games, sports, and creative activities that showcase the joy of being active together. In 2025, the invitation officially extended to U.S. schools, and CHP proudly joined in this historic first.
Through its partnership with the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy (NAHPL), which works closely with the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA), Cedar Hill Prep was invited to participate. This effort was championed by Middle School Physical Education teacher Dawn Francavilla, a passionate advocate for wellness, community, and lifelong fitness.
Our students truly embraced the day—cheering through team activities, laughing during group challenges, and connecting with one another through fun movement-based games. The excitement on campus reflected the ESSD spirit of “One World, One Movement,” showing how physical activity not only promotes health but also strengthens friendships and school spirit.
Aligned with Cedar Hill Prep’s IB Learner Profile and mission of holistic education, ESSD reinforces our commitment to developing balanced, engaged, and principled students. By participating in this global celebration, we highlight the importance of wellness, collaboration, and community-mindedness—values our students carry both in and out of the classroom.
On Saturday, September 27, Cedar Hill Prep students rolled up their sleeves and participated in a beach clean-up at Union Beach, joined by parent volunteers and guided by Coach Frankie. With gloves on and trash bags in hand, our students actively contributed to keeping the community and environment clean. At Cedar Hill Prep, community service is a core value. Through initiatives like this, our students learn the importance of responsibility, collaboration, and giving back—key elements of the IB Learner Profile, which emphasizes caring, principled action, and service to society. We are proud of our students for taking action to make a positive impact and for embodying the CHP spirit of service and leadership.
In attendance....Grade 5 Ishan, Sree Niya, Snehal, Mythili, Ian; Grade 6 Dylan, Jonathan, Siyana Grade 7 Armaan. Others included parents and younger siblings Liam, Jayden, Sree Dharsh.
In the final week of August and the beginning of September, Cedar Hill Prep teachers engaged in professional development and training to prepare for the new academic year. As an IB candidate school, our educators focused on best practices in inquiry-based learning, curriculum alignment, and strategies to foster critical thinking and creativity in every classroom. This dedicated preparation ensures that students start the year with engaging, purposeful learning experiences and a strong foundation for success.
Each year, Cedar Hill Prep opens its doors to new families with a warm and inspiring welcome. Dr. Nan Menon, our founder, and Mr. Donald Seeley, our devoted principal, personally greet parents during the New Parent Orientation. This special event provides a comprehensive introduction to our school, highlighting the IB-inspired curriculum, school values, and essential guidelines to help families feel informed and connected from day one. It’s a wonderful opportunity for new parents to meet the leadership team, ask questions, and experience the vibrant community that makes CHP so unique.
Families from every grade gathered for Back to School Night at Cedar Hill Prep, where parents had the opportunity to meet Nan and Seeley, their children’s homeroom teachers, as well as the school’s dedicated specialists. Parents also learned about CHP’s innovative philosophy and teaching system, gaining valuable insight into the supportive and engaging learning environment that shapes each student’s experience.
At Cedar Hill Prep, we kicked off the year with our beloved House Ceremonies, a cherished tradition inspired by Harry Potter, where new students and staff are “sorted” into their houses: Ramapo Falcons, Cherokee Bears, Lenape Owls, and Shawnee Beavers. Principal Seeley even donned a wizard’s robe, and the famous Sorting Hat made a magical appearance! The whole school came together to cheer, celebrate, and welcome our newest members into their house families.
From the cheers echoing through the halls to the excitement on students’ faces, it was a day full of community, school spirit, and connection—the perfect way to start the year at CHP.
Each house now begins its journey of teamwork, friendly competition, and shared pride. Here’s to a year of spirited challenges and unforgettable memories! Click Here for More Images
This year, CHP will be partnering with The Empathy, Equality, Entrepreneurship Mission (TEEEM), a non-profit organization that empowers students to make an impact on underserved communities worldwide. CHP will be collaborating with school children from the Lakota Nation in South Dakota. Our first introduction to this endeavor took place on Monday, September 22, and it was met with great excitement! Stay tuned for more updates on this phenomenal initiative.
Parents joined Mr. Seeley in our first in-person Coffee with the Principal session of the academic year. It was a wonderful opportunity to share questions, comments, and concerns while enjoying an open conversation with our principal. Stay tuned for the next Coffee with the Principal date — we can’t wait to see you there!
Hello Cedar Hill Prep families! We’re off to a great start this September, and the Nurse’s Office has a few helpful tips to keep our students feeling their best:
Don’t forget those water bottles! Staying hydrated helps our brains and bodies work their best. Tissues and hand sanitizer are our best friends as the seasons change — please keep them handy. Feeling feverish? If your child runs a temperature, they need a full 24 hours fever-free (without the help of medicine!) before returning to school. This helps keep germs from spreading and keeps everyone healthier.
Please be sure Blackbaud has your child’s most up-to-date medical forms, allergy information, and medication needs. Flu season is here! Be sure to schedule your child’s flu shot to help protect them (and our school community) from getting sick.
Here’s to a safe, happy, and healthy school year for all!
Monthly Mingle: Pizza with Mr. Seeley
Pizza with the Principal kicks off this month! Each month, students have the special opportunity to enjoy pizza with Mr. Seeley. This informal gathering is not only a fun break but also a great chance for students to share their thoughts, feedback, and ideas directly with the principal. We look forward to more engaging conversations and tasty slices as the season continues!
Grades 1 - 2
Grades 3 - 4
—Nurse Loretta
Grades 5 - 8
Our first PTO meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 8th at 7:00 PM via Zoom. While the 5th–8th graders are off at Frost Valley, it’s parents’ turn to connect—bring your ideas, energy, and enthusiasm!
The PTO is excited to partner with you this year to create fun events, volunteer opportunities, and memorable experiences for all our CHP children.
CHP Spirit Wear is Here!
Show your school pride!
Samples are on display in the new Middle School hallway case.
When paying via Venmo/PayPal, include:
• Child’s Name
• Style
• Size
&
At the Meeting We’ll Cover:
• Book Fair (Oct 24–31)
• Pie Sale
• Holiday Bazaar
• Volunteer opportunities
• Ways to stay connected
Check your email for the Zoom link—attendance is encouraged!
Here’s to a fantastic year filled with learning, laughter, and CHP spirit!
